A S Patterson
How and why the Christian Hebrews were to look to Jesus as they “run the race”, the description itself is fitted to explain in some degree.
Christ is a bright example
Christ is a bright example, and those who run the race must look to Him in that character. True, He seems here to be exhibited as the Judge of the sacred course. But probably, in many cases, he who assigned the prize in the classic games had been himself a candidate and conqueror in his day. If so, this fact would be fitted to stimulate the efforts of those who ran. True, others besides Jesus are held forth as examples to the Church, and these may serve to prompt and encourage the efforts of the candidate for an eternal crown. But all such examples are imperfect; it may be doubted whether, in the faithful record of any merely human believer, every one of the elements of moral and religious excellence is distinctly embodied. But every such element appears in the recorded life and manifested character of Christ.
Architects speak of high, and of low, relief. In the saints it is, after all, in low relief that spiritual excellence is shown. But it is in full development, in outstanding prominence, in high relief, that it appears in the history and character of Christ. In others, what is good requires to be distinguished from what is evil. There was no evil in Christ – the “chiefest among ten thousand” and “altogether lovely”. And in the particular point referred to in the context – in the generous self-denial and noble magnanimity with which He “endured the cross, despising the shame” – what a bright example He has given!
Jesus is a witness of the race
Jesus is a witness of the race and in that character is to be looked to by those who run it. In the public games, he who was to award the prize surveyed the candidates and marked the defeats which they encountered and the progress which they made. Even so with Christ. In the days of His flesh, He “needed not that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (Jn 2:25). Even then, He could say to Nathanael, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee” (Jn 1:48). And now “His eyes are as a flame of fire”.
He spoke from heaven into the open ear of His servant John, commissioning him to carry to certain of the churches those words: “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience”; “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty”; “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is”; “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy
1An edited extract from Patterson’s A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. He is here commenting on Hebrews 12:2. Patterson (1805-1885) became minister of Hutchesontown Free Church in Glasgow.
patience”; “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead”; “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot” (Rev 2:2,9,13,19; 3:1,15). The eye of Jesus is intently fixed on those who run, or profess to run, the race. To the careless, what a solemn warning! To the faithful, what a sublime encouragement! To each, what a summoning call!
Christ has provided the prize
Christ has provided the prize and will Himself confer it; in these relations, men are to look to Him as they “run the race”. By the suffering and shame described in this verse, “glory, honour,” and eternal joy were purchased for believing men. Death borne by Christ has procured for them everlasting life. The cross He endured made provision of a bright and undecaying crown for them. And He who bought it with His sacrificial blood will bestow it with His kingly hand. He who “is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” will make believers share in the “fullness of joy” which is before His Father’s face, the “pleasures for evermore” which are “at God’s right hand.”
“To him that overcometh,” are His own animating words, “will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne” (Rev 3:21); and again, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev 2:10). The love, the mighty love, in the exercise of which the crown was purchased and will hereafter be bestowed – and the prize itself, so dearly bought, so freely offered, so distinctly promised, and so gloriously conferred – what powerful motives, what vast encouragements, are these!
Finally, Christ possesses a treasury of grace
Finally, Christ possesses a treasury of grace, and therefore they who would successfully run the race should look to Him. It is His to guide the footsteps of the candidates, His to invigorate their souls, His to speed their efforts, His to make them prosper and prevail. How suitable then to wait on the Lord! How urgently important to seek His face! In doing these things, many have “renewed their strength”; and still the same directions are ready to be followed by the same success.
To Christ, then, and through Christ to the Eternal Father, let us go, “that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). And let these be among the honest and earnest supplications of our souls: “Show me Thy ways, O Lord, teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day” (Ps 25:4,5). Still fresh, still true, are the words of Him who was crucified in weakness once, but is now exalted gloriously: “My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). Nor is that ancient promise obsolete: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Is 40:31).